by Samantha Harvey

• Science-Fiction

Orbital is a science-fiction novel that follows a group of meteorologist astronauts observing Earth’s weather from space. After one of the crew members loses their mother, the team begins to reflect on their own lives back on Earth. From such a distant vantage point, they feel a growing sense of protectiveness over the planet they’ve left behind. 

I picked up this book because I’ve been really enjoying science fiction lately and wanted to explore something a little different, something more grounded than the usual alien-driven narratives. 

However, this novel doesn’t follow a traditional plot. Instead, it moves through each orbit of the Earth, drifting between the thoughts and perspectives of the crew. At times, this made it difficult to stay oriented in the story, as each character has their own way of thinking and interpreting the world. 

That said, there were moments that genuinely stayed with me. I found myself particularly drawn to the contrast between two astronauts, one religious and one not, and how, despite their differences, their perspectives often overlapped in meaningful ways. 

Unfortunately, much of the novel left me feeling somewhat disconnected. It’s a book I expected to read in one sitting, especially given its short length, but it took me three days to finish. I didn’t come away with the strong emotional impact I had hoped for. 

The novel explores powerful themes such as the climate crisis, national borders, global conflict, grief, and human connection. While these ideas are compelling, they didn’t resonate with me as deeply as I expected. 

At just 136 pages, Orbital is a quick read. I would recommend it to those who enjoy introspective, thought-provoking fiction. However, if you’re looking for a gripping, plot-driven story, this probably isn’t the book for you.